Learn to strike a balance between staging and living in your home. You can seasonally decorate your home without dashing your appeal . Th e main goal is to keep your home clean and free of clutter that distracts would-be buyers. Even simple things can make a big impact on th e fin al sale price of a home. Staging done well is one of those things! You have two options for staging a home: do it yourself or hire a professional home stager. If you are considering hiring someone, I can provide recommendations. TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY? Home sellers o ft en ask whether they should stay in their home while it is on the market, or go . Th ere are pros and cons to both and factors that can tip the scale to one side. If the seller has engaged a real estate agent, the burden of showing the home is virtually eliminated . Th e agent wil l fi eld all calls, set appointments, and show the home. Chances are that a buyer’s real estate agent will show your home to his or her clients. Busy schedules o ft en cause agents, as with anyone, to take the path of least resistance. If the agent has 15 homes to show and 3 are occupied, he or she may show the vacant home s fir st because they’re an easier optio n. Th e agent doesn’t need to make an appointment ahead of time and can simply use the lock box. If the seller is gone, he or she is not under constant pressure to keep the home in immaculate showing condition. If you’re unwilling to keep the home in turnkey condition for showing purposes, consider vacating before putting the home on the market. In some situations, it’s almost essential to vacate the home during the selling period—especially if the sellers’ home is simply too messy to show while the sellers live there. Reasons for messy homes vary. Some sellers are pack rats, and their home re fl ects that behavior because boxes are piled everywhere, and rooms are st uff ed with personal belonging s. Th is is a considerable obstacle to getting a good o ff er. Other sellers
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